Water conditioner



Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE Allen W. Frazier, Glen Ellen, Calif.

Application June 1, 1949, Serial No. 96,453

1 Claim. l

My present invention relates to water conditioners and more particularly to a portable conditioner for drinking water.

It is a well known fact that the composition of water diifers greatly in difierent localities. In many localities the water is highly lmineralized and discolored. In many localities water is contaminated requiring chlorine treatment which does not irnprove the taste for drinking purposes and sometimes impairs the transparency of the water.

In my present invention water of the character above mentioned may be passed through the con ditoner by a simple connection to the house tap or any other water supply line and passed to a pitcher or other container for drinking purposes. The processed water flows from the conditioner clear and transparent. All discoloration is removed together with objectionable odors and becomes palatable.

The principal object of my invention is to produce an improved simple, inexpensive portable water conditioning device.

Another object is to produce a water conditioning device in which water to'be conditionedpasses uniformly down through a suitable exchange mineral body and up through a central passage and out to another container such as a pitcher etc.

Still another object is to produce a water conditioner device in which the exchange mineral body may be easily reactivated and the exchange mineral body back-washed without removal from the container.

A still further object is to produce a device of the character above indicated which may be inserted through the small neck of a container of a bottle or jug and in which the exible outlet tube may also be used to seal the vdevice `from foreign matter or from leakage if accidentally overturned, and

Other objects comprising the construction and operation of my invention will be more apparent as the description of the same progresses.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the device:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the conditioner, `the inlet tube being broken olf and showing in dotand-dash lines a funnel attachment adjusted to the end of the tube to receive reactivating salt solution,

Fig. 2 is a vertical central cross-section, portions of which areshvown inelevation-andother portions being broken off,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the (Cl. B10-24) `2 upper portionof the device illustrating the methvod of closing the device when not in use,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of the upper side of the neckof the device'shown in Fig. 2 but showing the relief Valve in more detail, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section taken o n the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 particularly showing the grill-end of the outlet tube.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, I Il indicates a container which is provided witha screw threaded neck II to which is screwed afspecial T fitting I2. The container is preferably: constructed of glass or other transparent material giving visible access to the contents of the vcontainer at au times. The T fitting l2 may bedonstructed from any suitable material of a nonferrous nature, preferably metal. The container if! is preferably symmetrical in cross-section but may be of a different shape if desired. A quart bottle or a jug will suiiice.

The T fixture I2 is provided with an inlet boss I3 which is hollow and fitted with a sWeated-in nipple I4 over which is fitted a flexible rubber `tube I5. The free end of the tube I5 may be adapted to fit any standard slip-over or kscrew fitting which will connect with a water faucet orother .source of water supply. In .the top of the yT fitting I2 I have located a tube I 6; The tube I6 is sweated or otherwise sealed at I1 in the "top portion of the fitting I2 land projects above the said fitting to form another nipple I8 to which is attached an outlet flexible rubber tube I9. The outlet end of the tube I9 may be directedinto any receiving container for conditioned water such as a pitcher or a jug or any handy container which can be placed in a home refrigerator for cooling e c.

Referring back to the T fitting I2,' a. secondtube 20 is sealed at 2| in an opening inthe lower portion of the T fitting I2. The tube 20r is larger than Ythe `tube I6 and .provides a space 2,2 .between the two tubesgshown'in Fig. 2. The lower end of the outer tube 2i! is sealed against Vtheioutside of the inner tube It, indicated by the 'neet/e 2.3.

In the upper portion of the T fitting ,I2 there is provided a chamber, 24 into which theI inlet tube' I5 connects. This chamber 24 connects'with the space 22 around the two tubes vlli and 20 makingone continuous chamber. In .the upper portionof the chamber 24, I have'provided an air vent valve k25 preferably sealed 'in va v'hollow .boss-2 6 .fgrmedonihe T fitting` .I2-

nazomer are Narrated umanitaria of slits at 21 providing outlet openings for incoming unconditioned water, the operation of which will be described further along in the specification.

In the lower portion of the container I and telescoped over the tube I6 is an extension tube 28 the upper end of which is tted with a rubber tube coupling member 29. The tube 28 is provided for the purpose of extending the central tube I6 or adjusting it higher or lower depending upon the depth of the container I0. The rubber tube coupling 29 slides on the tube I6. If preferred, the tube I6 and extension piece 28 may be composed of one piece. In either case, the bottom of the tube is pinched in, as shown in Fig. 5, and slots 30 are formed providing a grill entrance to the tube.

The lower portion of the T iixture I2 is internally threaded to engage the threaded portion Il of the container I0, the T xture I2 being sealed with the container I0 by means of the rubber bushing 3l which also acts as a spacer and cushion between the outer tube 20 and container neck I I and thereby provides an air space 32 connecting with the interior of the said container. In the upper portion of the tube 2li there is provided a port 33 which communicates with the air space 32 between the container neck portion II and the interior of the container.

In operation, the T fixture I2 and the tubes I6 and 20 together with the relief valve 25 are assembled as a unit. The container I0 is filled with exchange mineral matter 35 to an approximate level in the container, indicated at 36. The flexible tube I is attached to a water supply line and water iiows into the chamber 24 of the T tting I2 and down between the tubes I6 and 20 and outwardly through the slots 27 in the tube into the upper portion of the container I0 above the level 36 of the exchange mineral 35. The water passes down through the exchange mineral 35 uniformly through the whole body of the mineral matter and passes up through the slots forming the grill in the end of Athe tube I6, and out through the outlet tube I9 to any suitable container. The port 33 permits surplus water to collect in the upper portion of the container I0, shown in Fig. 2, so that the neck portion II may be partially filled with water.

During the lling of the container I0 with water, the air in the container I0 is forced upwardly as the water displaces it and is manually vented through the ball valve 25. Any type of valve may be used in place of the one shown which will permit air to be released and prevent water from passing through when the valve is closed. The port 33 in the pipe 20 permits air in the upper portion of the container to escape up into the T fixture chamber 24, and be vented through the valve 25, thereby permitting the water level in the container I0 to rise above the highest slot 21 in the tube 20. This makes possible the uniform flow of water through the device without undue agitation in the upper portion of the container I0.

Sediment or other voids coming from the inlet tube I5 are trapped in the container I0 above the top of the exchange mineral matter and appear as a flock like material. To clear this ilock condition the rubber tubes I5 and I3 are reversed and water is forced down through the tube I6 and out through the inlet nipple I4.

When the exchange mineral matter 35 becomes deactivated from use over a period of time, it may be reactivated by placing a small funnel 40 in "the end of inlet tube I5 and a quantity of salt solution allowed to pass through the coriditioner in the same manner as when attached to a water faucet. The tube I5 may be again attached to the water faucet and the salt solution run off, after which the conditioner is again ready to produce conditioned water for drinking purposes.

When the conditioner is not in use, the tube I5 may be removed from the nipple I4, and the free end of the tube I9 is then brought around and placed over the nipple I4, shown in Fig. 3. This arrangement not only prevents water from being spilled should the container be overturned but also prevents any foreign matter from entering the device when not in use, making sure that the conditioner is always in a sanitary condition.

Any suitable exchange mineral such as zealite may be used with good results. I do not claim that this device will eliminate bacteria or similar impurities which may be in the tap water but it will remove discolorations, odors, and other foreign matter rendering the processed water clear, odorless and. palatable to the taste.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention somewhat in detail yet it is to be understood that I may vary the shape and proportions and may substitute equivalent structure within Wide latitude within the scope of the appended claim.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In an improved water conditioner of the portable type using a dispensible narrow necked transparent container partially filled with exchange mineral mattei', a removable fixture frictionally sealed in the said container neck comprising a T like member with an internal chamber, a water inlet and an air check valve member communicating with said chamber, an exterior tube sealed in said T member at the lower side of said chamber, the lower end of said exterior tube extending downwardly into the said exchange mineral matter, ports located in said exterior tube communicating with the interior of said container and said T member chamber, an internal tube coaxially located in said external tube, the upper end of which is located through the top of said T member, said internal tube and external tube being provided with a passage way between said tubes, said passage way being open into the said chamber at the top of said external tube and closed at the bottom of said external tube, said internal tube extending down in said mineral exchange mattei' to a point adjacent the bottom of said container, the lowermost end of said internal tube being flattened and compressed together with vertical slots being formed therethrough to communicate with the interior of said internal tube.

ALLEN W. FRAZIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,781,314 Brandt Nov. 11, 1930 1,898,812 Bressler et al Feb. 12, 1933 1,935,458 Pick Nov. 14, 1933 1,937,330 Brice Nov. 2S, 1933 2,560,960 Klumb July 17, 1951 2,572,082 Welsh Oct. 23, 1951 

